The 9 Principles of Water Democracy

1) Water is nature's gift
We receive water freely from nature. We owe it to nature to use this gift for our sustenance needs, to keep it clean and in adequate quantity. Diversions that create arid or waterlogged regions violate the principles of ecological democracy.

2) Water is essential to all life
Water is the source of life for all species. All species and ecosystems have a right to their share of water on the planet.

3) Life is interconnected through water
Water connects all beings and all parts of the planet through the water cycle. We all have a duty to ensure that our actions do not cause harm to other species and people.

4) Water must be free for sustenance needs
Since nature gives water to us free of cost, buying and selling it for profit violates our inherent right to nature's gift and denies the poor of their human rights.

5) Water is limited and can be exhausted
Water is limited and exhaustible if used non-sustainably. This includes extracting more water from ecosystems than nature can recharge and consuming more than one's legitimate share, given the rights of others to a fair share.

6) Water must be conserved
Everyone has a duty to conserve water and use water sustainably, within ecological and just limits.

7) Water is commons
Water is not a human invention. It cannot be bound and has no boundaries. It is by nature a commons. It should not be owned as private property and sold as a commodity.

8) No one holds a right to destroy
No one has the right to overuse, abuse, waste, or pollute water systems. Tradable-pollution permits violate the principle of sustainable and just use.

9) Water cannot be substituted
Water is intrinsically different from other resources and products. It should not be treated as a commodity.